Musical instrument



Dec.- 20,- 1927.

R. VANA MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 50. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Thai.

Dec. 20, 1927.

- R. VANA MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed NOV. 50. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fica i6.

Tic. .10. Fi-QEG.

r-vbratiQnF-of the string. during instrument, 1

55 accordancewitlr thefpresent inventionfand in whichinstrument theren is provided a; sin- A Pergamena. 2o, Y1927;]1@Y

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Appnation fueanovemtr 3o, 192s. serial No, 151,683.

\ Thisinventionfrelates to. certainlnew and, useful improvements; in musical` lnstru.`

ments of the string-type andvmorej p articwv larlyrelates to thefcharacter oi :musical 1nstrum'ent" disclosed" in "PatentlNo 1,593,8109, granted vto Rudolph'Vana on JulyQ?, 1926,

an Vimportant `object offthis invention being to providefor theftreinolo of sound. vibra tions similartothse produced `by" vibratory wherein a singlelooped 'string or'wire associated with the instrument box` or caseA has `a hammers dev-ice in vcontact with the wireand manually ,movable thereover for, the: sounding otdiilerent notes andto'act Ain lieu of, the( usualfretspand with.` which instrument a resiliently mounted striker arm is associated toY be moved into contact with vthestringor vwire and beingfdesigned-Lto..

`permit vibratory.movementthereof.f 25

y-provide a tremolof'attachment 'forathe in- ,strument wherein the `endsfofa single` looped. ystring orwine are attached to-a tuning key or`shaft with lthe vshaft carried 'y by;` a re? .further objectot the invention jis -to siliently; mounted 'plate to f permit increased y A, Vstilllfurther which the instrument maybe played.l

` With the `above and other'objectsfin view `inthe"` novel iform," combination and` arrangementof partsandin the details of con-` (struction.l hereinafter; more fully described.l

In ythe` accompanying drawings, vwherein designate corresponding;parts# throughout the several i vieWS., i

Figure l shows-by dotted *lineal alitopeplan 'view of` a musical instrument constructedin .case;" l Figure 2 is a V[cross-*sectional* view of the" I5 movementoflthe handsinthefplaying,of a

Playing Of the "l object-of theinvention is tof provide a novelitype ofybow i `or Y playing the y' stringed instrument; and whereinya device is f `s `)associated with thefthairs .of the bowtocre-V ate a tremolo etlectxwhenV `thebow `is drawn i acrossthejstring, and in addition, the invenn `tion' provides for a novel type "of pick with,

:the tremo o device; y l V Figure 10` is a` topplan 'view, similartowhich creates atremolo effect; p y. y Figure 15 is anedge elevational viewof yaccompAanying drawings. the tremolo attachment withfthe tionallview of the jtremolo devioe Y like i :reference Jch'aracters are employed to gle loopedplaying string lhaving ajhamnrier"y for the String is carried by the instrument `striking arm andj its '-supporting *platedef vdevice movablethereover to operate in lieu Vv of the instrument fret, one form ofthe in- .vention being `shown in full linesin Figure i, 1 wherein a resilient mounted striking `arm tached fromtheinstrument case andshowing the springsupport for the tubular string striliing arm;A

conducting member between ,the 'tubular striking arm yand [the Vspring support for the same;l i f Figures views of a novel formofpick employed for playing the strings; i l f F eratively positioned upon` theothumb of a hand that is shown by dottedlines;

`Flgure 3 is adetailsectional view 'of the 4cl and -.areA side Aand top` plan i `Figure 7` is a front elevational view of av tremolo device detached fromthe instrument' casey.

instrument that is-illustratedbydotted lines tremolo device in positionfluponthe stringed and showingtheiends ofthe singlelooped string attached to the pin that is rotatedbyV the tuning-'key which "in vturn is carried lby Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken'on Figure 1 `'showing the' playing ofthe instrument accomplished by a bow;

Figures-11 and -12 are sideand rear tional views ofthe bowg" .i i

elevai 'e Figure 13- is a detailed sectionalview showing thel screwy adjusted slots to which one yend ofthe vgroup of hairs is attached;

tional views of an-attachment `for the bow bow engaged l therewith; and l n Figurenl 1s a fragmentary front eleva- The musical instrument disclosed in this Figurel lrshowsfront and edge eleva?` hairs'jof.the"` bowL equippedfwith Aa 1,`' 93,809` above referredfto and 'which has D.

Y y t 7,5 Figure -6 isla side 4view ofthe pick opi case comprises an, instrument case 1, preferably` yof the design shown with a single string 2 loopedaround the pin' 3 at one end of the casing ly While the reepends'ofvthe single looped string 2 that extendto the opposite end of the case and over a roller l y With the tivo ends secur-ed to` avjournalefd pin 4 inteiiorly ot the case as shown in Figure 9 andv which pin isrotatedpfor the pur-` poseof tuning vthe siiiglestring bythe us'ual tuninglrey. The uppersideo'f 'the instru? ment case l being free of the usual .aijran'ge- 'ment of rfrets With'wliich the strings are associated ini instruments of this general character, there 'is provided a hammer 'device 5. engaging both sectionsof the looped ystring 2 tok be manually' shifted tliereov-'er *for 'raising Zand' lowering the pitch fof thel k'playing end of the string7 bein'gundersto'od that Va scale chart, if desired, Amay -be 'carried the upper side of the case in pi'oxilnityfof the string 2 as a guide in manipulating the hammer 5. t.

One ofthe devices Ausedin 'the playing of as the instrument oase; y(The vbase plate' is movable over the 'upper surfaceof` the linstrument c ase l tol'assume proper relation With respect to the string2'and'in order to prevent injury or niairing of the surface fof' the case, the lower' faceof. the basel platte? 6 carries arfabric or felt covering'fassh-owvnl v ein Figure 2; A coiled spring 8 havingfth'e its ends 4received in v-a socketin" thebaseplate -v 6 adjacent' one edge and .end of thefbase' plate to; extend upwardly facrossf the ibaseA plate atv 'anv acute angl-e 'thereto to 'formi a.

.'convolu'tions. thereof contiguous has one ot resilient support for lthe' tubulaim-ember Which-may' be r:tormedof brass orA similar.

materialto l'provide vfor increased vibratory or ringing eectduring playing ofthe instrument. vThe connector 'pinlO v`shownzin Figure 3 isV interposed between the coil spring 8 vand tubular member 9 and-"includes an .v externally threadedy end ll received in. the convolutio'iis of th-e Coil spring 8, While the other end 12vthereof is 'frictionally ree ceivedV in the tubular'vmember '9 to permit longitudinal adjustment'of the latter -With' respect-to thespring. Jtfpad 13 vof leather,4 eltgor tlielikefis setA into a recess' ink the upper face of the base'plate 6 to prevent 'contact of the coilv springY 8 with; the base plate toeliminate all extraneous noises. '1 f is moved over the string 2 to obtain 4the de-V sired pitcher tone and the spring 8 engaged by one-or more fingers ajs shown bydott'ed lilies in FigurelV to cause tlietubular inem# ber 9 forciblyfto strike tliestrin'g2and-:said

Y( tubular member.

springvr being retained its". loweredV lposi- .tion in contact With the'pad 13, the tubular member 9 Will reverberate and strike the Y string severaltimesand thereafter Will con-V tinue to yvibrate for a'period of time until stopped by contact between a finger andthe l The eiectV produced with a playingdeviceoil this character is similar l to Hawaiian music WhencQmbined with the proper shifting. of theV hammer 'jandj beau-A tiful tone effectsjare made possible. 'base plate 6 being freely supported'upon the `case. l is leasily :shiftablethereoven'to` obtain p the. desired, position V'with respect tor the 'Y vstring andhammer and thefcase lfxby thev MVVpresence ofthe protecting padi. I

The"

The instrument may also `be 'playedingaf manner similarV to" afinand'olinv or balnio by l V:the useV ofa pick inthe form oa ringzas shown. in Figures 4to, 6, the split ringl@ encirclingY the 'outer 'end of the thumb; T and lia'vingfa pick point l51 extended jfrom 'one *split end thereof.` Theppickinay/ b-e constructedA Vof any material desired', such as Y *"*fzf 'It is also Vintended to .provide al-treinolo` metal, Celluloid or 'tlie'likef" Y attachment'fortheinstrument, andas :shown in-A Figures 7 rto 19r fthe elongated `in'etallie strip'or plate l6'haslti'ansverselyextending slotted op'enings'@ threugh Wlii'clifastefn-v ing screiv's' 18 pa'ssfin enteiingfthe side' of tliefcasef l as shown' in Figure 9. "Washers 'l f 'or spacers 19 "being yinterposedbetween 'the inner sidebfxthe plaiterlt atvrth'er side ofthe 1 case 'l 'to provide a. .space therebetween asili' has a balancing`iveight20'secured thereto by the fastening 'device 21e-While thefextrenie The' pin-v 4 -to which theV- llooped string 2 is ff attached extends througl'i'the side ofthe case and plateflp-andhas aj-'Worm'wheel 26""s'ev-v cured te itsouter end1,-`the tui'iingfkey 27 khaving a, worm' portion `28 engaging the] Worm- Wheel 26 for rotating thepin 4 to acquirertheljdesiredpitchertonefor-the string 2. VThe pin 4 being Ycarried bythe plate 136- Vthat has limited movementV by itsfpin and"l slot connection'wit-h the side offthe'ins'tru-7 'nient case 1,*vvibration` `from"thefstrings'2 when Adisturbed'-or whenv playing thereof vis lcommunicated to thepin 4 and plate 16 .-to be increased bythe balancing Weight 20and said Weighted plate in returnyadds increased*vif`v f brationstoxthe' string' 2 for the vcreati-'on of V v I e .vibratorytone Waves Wit-hout dist-urbingfthe'- 'In' playing'the instrument, the-hammer 5 vpitch or tone that is determined"bythe provision ofthe hammer 5 upon the'string2.v

*Y Figures. lO..to 13, the lbowf29 havingan openingl 3()y in its outerfend tto" receivetlie 'i' of a group of-'hairsf Athat:areniretfained w nes-aspen,

the maiinerillustrated 29=ffofthe bow toi create orltrfemolo eectand is shown'in VFigures Mito n .shown in Figurelllthefattachment is; in the.

`form of ladder having side"railsl 36 and `cross connecting Varms and 38,the" arms` flying inthe'samefplaiie'as thefside ra-ils 36 whilefthe arms 38 that `are alternately 'ar-f rangedY with respect tofthe Varins 37 `are fottsetw atene' and Vthe same sideotithe side `rails-36 as shown in the-edge viewot Fig- `ure V14;.1 The horse 'hairs iare. arrangedlin three sections as shown in Figure 16 by the `ais . j tion 39? of the hairsjextendsfabovelthe tirst cross arm 38an`d below theV second cross arm 38` tobe intertwined'with the alternate Vcross arms 88 and tobe `positioned outward-` ly of all of .the alternatecross arms 3 7. The two outer or edge groupsot hairs 3 9a and 139C pass below the? firstjicross` arrn 38 and above the Vsecond crossarm 38to befintertwined .with the alternate cross arms 38 with fthe three groups of hairs' all positioned .'aboveand outwardly ot the alternate cross arms 37. The ends ofthe severalfgroups of hairs are secured in any-suitablemanner to the; bow stick 29.,r With the hairs cfaV bow` equipped with the device` shown in Figure 14 in Athe manner herein described,

a wavyor tremjolol eect is obtained in passing the bow ofthe string 2. i From the above' detailed description fof t ythe invention, it is believedthat Athe `con-A struction and operation `ot the several forms thereof `will be freadily understood, and

`whilethere are herein shown and described the-preferred 'embodiments'of the invention it is nevertheless to belimderstood that mi- 1 "ofthe string are attached, a hammer movable over the string. to operate in lieu of: Vthe .usual frets, and a resiliently mounted 1 'device associated with the string to produce 66j i nor changes maybe made therein without departing'irom the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed.

What I claim as new` is:-`

` l. "In a stringed musical instrument ott-he character described, a resonance box, a single looped string, a. tuning key to which `the ends a tremolo effect.vv

single looped `string,` a`it7uning 'keyto` which lieu `ofthe Ausual 1frets, tand a resiliently a stringed musical instrument *ot-the i i character described, a resonanceboxya the ends` ofthe string` areattached, aillianil Cmer4` movable over the string to-foperate in `mounted.device; mamialllyiiiovedy into strikingfengagement withthestrin'g to producevl `a tremoloeiiect.

f Inv a stringed musical instrument of `thejcllaracter described;l a resonancebox, a singleTV looped string, a tuningfkey to which theends of the'stringvare attached, a hunmer movj `able" Aover the `string to operate in lieu ofthe usual frets, and.y `'afplaying device for the n string comprising a b l'oclr movably' lniou'nted f lon the box, `a. tubular vibrating; armresiliently carried b y the block'fandinanuallyff `movable into striking engagement with the string to `produce a tremble "effect, r

4.' `In acstringed musical'instrument ofthe vcharacter described, a resonance boX`,a single looped stringa` tuning keyto which the endsy or' the'string areattached la hammer movable? f' overthestring,tooperateinlieu of the usual frets, and a playing device for the string coma coil spring` anchoredat one end to the bloclr prising a block movably mounted onthe box` i andfextendingupwardlyand across the same at an acute .angle and a tubular resounding metallic member connected'to the-,upper end ot' the spring and normally movable into contact with'the string to produce a tremolo efect'. f i Y 5. In a stringed instrument of the character described a resonance box, single looped string, a tuning lreyto which the ends of the string are attached, a vhammer movable overl` f r.the string to yoperate in lieu of the usual frets, and a playing devicefor the string comprising a block movablymounted on the box, a coil spring anchored atone end of the block andl extending upwardly and across the samefat an acute angle and a tubular rei e Y i 1110 Y Upper end of the s ring and normally'movsounding metallic member'connected to the able into Contact with thestring to produce a tremoloeiect, and an extensibleconnection between the coil spring and tubular member.

i G; In a stringed musical instrument of the character described,a resonance box, a single loopedistring, a tuning key 'to which the ends .Y

able: overthe string'to operate in lien of ,the usual'frets, a playing device for the string comprising-a block movably mounted'on the box, a coilspring anchored at one endto the bloclra'nd extending upwardly and across the same atan acute angle and! a tubular 'resounding metallic member connected to' the "-ot'the string are attached, ahammermovupper end of the'spring 'and normally mov-4 ableinto contact with the string to produce a tremolo effect, a fabric backing for theblock pand a cushion padon theupper side of the i Vbloclr'in thepath of lowering movement of 130 Y' thespringto preyent'fcontact betweenftlie I, block andextending'upwardly andaoross the same atan vacute/angle rand a tubular re-y spring and block.

7.In a Stringedmusical instrument of the character described, a resonance box,a single floopedstring,a tuning key to which the ends of thestrimq arel attached,A a. Yhammer movable" over tbe stringvto operate in lieu of tbe usual frets,iand aV playing device fortbepstringf comprising a block movably Vmounted'on the box, a CoilY spring'k anchored at one end to the sounding metallic member yconnected vto'ftlie upperfend of tlie spring and normally movable .into Contact with tberstring to produce prevent contact between the springand block. Y r 1 f8, In a strngedniusieal instrumentrof the 'character described,'a resonance-ibex, a single usual fr etsyand a tremolo devicefcarried the boxand with Vwhich .tbe` string isfassof.

elated 9. In as.. stringed Inusieal instrument ofthe character described7 a. resonance box, asingle4 looped string,l a .tuningvkeyrto which tlilelendsfV of the stringv are attaobed, a Vhammermov;

ablefover the string -toloperate in lieu of the` usual frets, and a ti'einolo def/'ice resiliently supported 1onv the lbox y and fivitli whichV string is associated'.

l0. In a stringed character described, 'a resonancefboga single... v looped string, a tunlnglrey Yto which the ends of vthe string. arev attachecL/ a'hliannner' mov- In usicalginstruinent'of ,tlie 40 i aslf" able over tlie string,` to operate in'lieufof the,v

usual `fret-s, and a Weighted tremolo device resi-lientlyl supported on :the 'box andl Wtli A which tlie Vstring is associated'.

j In testimonyfwliereof l afx'my A l' n IVRUDQLRHVANA.

looped string, tuningkey vtowhieli the ends 25 u ofthe stringV are attached, aihammer movable over the" string tofopera-te inflieli of tlief 

